KMC to open five more dengue detection centres

This will take the total number of dengue detection centres in the city to 10. The KMC is also considering a proposal to keep two centres open round the clock. The civic authorities are likely to open five more dengue detection centres in near future. From January 1 to August 13, 290 people in the city have been afflicted with dengue, Ghosh said.

The KMC will launch a massive awareness programme from next week. The KMC has formed Rapid Action Team in the borough and central levels. The health workers are going from house to house to launch anti-larvae drive. They inspect the underground reservoirs and overhead tanks and if the covers of the tanks of reservoirs are missing, they ask the owners in case of individual houses and secretary of housing cooperatives to replace them. It may be recalled that KMC has already show-caused over 30 health department employees including two doctors for dereliction of duty.

It may be mentioned that due to the sustained efforts by KMC, malaria has virtually been eradicated from the city. Anti-larvae drives are carried out throughout the year and they are intensified at the onset of monsoon. There was a time when almost every household in Kalighat- Bhowanipore was afflicted with malaria. After coming to power in 2010, Mayor Sovan Chatterjee sat with the health department employees of KMC and a comprehensive plan was chalked out to combat the disease.

The city was divided into nine zones and the most vulnerable areas were identified. The same method is still being followed to check spread of the disease.

It may be recalled that during a meeting the Dr AC Dhariwal, director National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme had lauded the effort of KMC to check the spread of dengue and malaria. A Congress delegation on Tuesday met Ghosh and submitted a memorandum demanding round the clock surveillance by the department. Ghosh assured them that every step to check spread of the disease would be taken.

Ghosh said the KMC was keeping in constant touch with the state health department. KMC health department staff is visiting pathological laboratories and private nursing homes to know the names of patients who have been detected with dengue. “The anti-larvae drive is on along with the awareness programme and people should not panic and contact KMC ward health offices if they are found to be suffering from fever,” the official said.